Bolton Wanderers v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[eastie]

Crikey - I've never known a season like this for injuries - a young inexperienced defence will be sorely tested by davies, sturridge and co, we might as well attack and I think we need 3 goals to win, I was thinking Collins would be fit but without him it will be tough.

[VillaZogmariner]

This could be the first game where the combined age of the back 4 is less than that of the goalkeeper.

[WikiVilla]

you never know, the kids at the back may make a fair fist of it

[eastie]

Baker and Clark should be used to playing with each other so may well have a good understanding-looks like delph will be at left back again .

[WikiVilla]

Thats what I was thinking, Clark may perform better without Dunne around (in the nicest possible way), Baker looks like he can handle himself / mix it a bit as does Clark, so the physicality of Davies / Elmander should be neutralised.
Need to keep Sturridge off the ball though in and around the box

[Matt Collins]

Feeling much less confident of a win than last Sunday. I fear Davies will bully us and sturridge looks dangerous. Are we sure baker is even fit? Would have played delph with NRC but not sure we can now, and don't feel confident about stan or bobby against their
hard running midfield.

Apparently bolton have only lost 2 In 12 at home. And we've only won once against a top half side all season, which is frankly appalling

Apparently, despite a dip in form Bolton have Still only lost 2 out of 12at home. we've won once all season against teams currently in the top half, which is an awful and embarrassing stat

[mattjpa]

Then Houllier can fuck off

Why don't you join him?

seconded...

[koreanmeatballs]

They will be too strong for us. I trust a center back pairing of Baker and Clark but its a bit shit having to start it against Kevin Davies, who hasn't lost an aerial challenge in his life.

Predict a comfortable 2-0 loss.

Be interesting to see the reaction to Houllier if we lose this at the Wolves game. We will see a return of 'Give us A wave/ Sacked in the morning' monkeys who seem to change their mind on what to sing every two minutes.

[alanclare]

Unfortunately, we shall lose this match 2-0.

[Fin Feds Dad]

Friedel

Walker Heskey Clark Baker

NRC Delph

Downing Young Albrighton

Bent

I agree - I think Heskey at the back against Davies makes alot of sense.

Whether Ged agrees or not is another question

[WikiVilla]

Dunno why but I've got a really bad feeling about tomorrows post match thread

Because almost every post you make is laced with negativety and almost a want for the villa to lose to proveyou right?

Dont think so, I'm normally the one on here sticking up for the likes of NRC / Stan etc. I've been on here long enough to predict what defeat will bring today in the form of the post match outburst. Seen it so many times before. Anyway I'm off to Bolton shortly so catch you all later

[Phil from the upper holte]

2-0 Bolton I hope im wrong

[mattjpa]

It is, and I sincerely hope we win and it somewhat vindicates his decision. It is a very difficult place to go though, and I fear they will go with the 2 big men up top to bully Clark at the back. I agree re the Blues thing having a big part, but if we are measuring ourselves on their success this week then we have got a very frail mental attitude. It is like having a peeing contest - we have been diddling over the wall for years and they just reached the bottom of it, as such their success should be tolerated as they are not a threat and short of sharing the same city, have nothing to do with us. It annoyed me for a few hours on Sunday, and I became completely neutral to it by monday, and happily discussed the game etc with a couple of Blues mates last couple of days without a twinge of jealousy. We had our opportunities last season in the cup, but were so knackered through non rotation we were pretty pathetic on both occasions, did not hold onto the ball at all and ran out of ideas when plan a failed. At least with Houllier there is a sense of trying different things and working towards a future way of playing that may be a bit more varied.

Anyhow, still think 2-2 - hope for more.

I Like the cut of your jib, son

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Boltons last 9 home league games.

Everton won 2-0
Wolves won 1-0
Chelsea lost 0-4
Wigan drew 1-1
WBA won 2-0
Blackburn won 2-1
Blackpool drew 2-2
Newcastle won 5-1
Spurs won 4-2

This is going to be very tough.

[Holtenderinthesky]

I just don't know which Villa are gonna turn up.  On our day we can beat anybody and we have shown glimpses of that lately.  Bolton is always a tough away day but one that we usually deal with.  Forget about Wednesday, that's done now,  there is a real chance for us to make wine out of water here, 3 wins and we could be pushing top 6.  I have gone through every permutation on this one and I still don't know.  2-2?